In Portugal’s triumph over Switzerland, Goncalo Ramos burst into the international soccer scene with a hat-trick.

Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, has stated that the club will seek to acquire a forward during the upcoming January transfer window.

Ten Hag is a fan of Ramos.

The recent departure of Cristiano Ronaldo has left Manchester United with few options at center forward. Last month, the Reds sacked the 37-year-old after his already infamous conversation with Piers Morgan.

Anthony Martial, whose fitness has been somewhat questionable thus far this season, is United’s lone senior out-and-out striker, leaving the club with only one senior striker. Concerns exist regarding his fitness for the remainder of the season given that he has only appeared seven times in all competitions.

United must buy a new forward in January to improve their offensιve output. They have scored just 20 goals in the Premier League this season, the fewest among the top seven teams. Only Chelsea (17) has scored fewer goals among the top ten teams.

United have been linked to a number of forwards prior to the beginning of the transfer window, including Cody Gakpo of PSV Eindhoven, Joao Felix of Atletico Madrid, and Victor Osimhen of Napoli, who the club is genuinely interested in. Goncalo Ramos of Benfica is the latest player to be heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford after scoring a hat-trick in Portugal’s 6-1 World Cup triumph against Switzerland last week.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag is reported to be a fan of the 21-year-old, and MEN Sport has analyzed three different formations United may utilize with him. Given the enormous transfer fee that Benfica will likely demand for Ramos, it is vital to remember that a transfer during the season is highly doubtful, with an approach in the summer being significantly more likely.

4-3-3 (Striker)

United will likely prioritize the recruitment of a striker during the next phase of their squad overhaul under Ten Hag in 2023, and have already developed a list of potential candidates that includes Osimhen. United’s prospects of luring him away from Napoli in the midst of the season are nearly nonexistent, given the current state of the Italian club.

Ramos is the most recent player to be linked to United, following a series of others. The youngster made headlines on Tuesday after replacing Ronaldo in Portugal’s starting lineup and scoring a hat-trick to advance his team to the round of eight.

Ramos has scored 14 goals in 21 club outings for Benfica despite being a relatively unknown player when the lineups were announced. In addition, he has contributed six assists.

As a central striker, he is the ideal contender for the No. 9 position, although Gakpo and Felix are not necessarily natural strikers. With Antony and Marcus Rashford giving support from the flanks, he may be an outstanding option to operate in the center of the front three.

Goncalo Ramos operates as Manchester United’s lone striker.

4-2-3-1 (Attacking-midfielder/second striker)

United’s trademark 4-3-3 formation is capable of transforming into a 4-2-3-1 system. Bruno Fernandes, a fellow Portugal international, operates as an offensιve midfielder at the No. 10 position in both of these formations.

As we have seen this season, United lack a clear backup option when he is missing, as Ten Hag has refused to move Christian Eriksen farther up, placing him in a more restricted No. 8 role. United’s manager has indicated that Donny van de Beek is at his best when he plays as an offensιve midfielder, but this has yet to be proven.

Ramos occasionally played as a second striker or an attacking midfielder during the previous season. Despite the fɑct that it is not his preferred position, he has proven that he is capable of working in it and creating a threɑt.

United would not sign him for that position, but he could play there if necessary.

In this Manchester United lineup, Goncalo Ramos would play as a second striker and attacking midfielder.

4-1-2-1-2 (Striker)

Although United have not deployed a front two under Ten Hag, adding Ramos would permit him to experiment with the formation. The Portuguese superstar is a natural No. 9 and could form a central partnership with Martial.

Given that Eriksen, Casemiro, and Fernandes have collaborated so effectively this season, United would be comρelled to sacrifice a midfielder. However, if Ten Hag were to mix things up, Eriksen would presumably have to make way for Casemiro and Fernandes, who provide the defensive and offensιve elements, respectively.

Antony and Rashford would continue to bring energy and width from the flanks and cut inside alongside Ramos and Martial.

How Manchester United and Goncalo Ramos could form a forward two.